Oil Spill in Alberta Threatens Local Water Supply

An oil pipeline running through the Mountain View and Red Deer counties of Alberta, Canada ruptured on Thursday, spilling 3,000 barrels of oil. The spill leaked from Jackson Creek and has spread downstream towards Gleniffer Lake and Reservoir.

So far the local council has reported no risk to human health, although the water supply of over 100,000 residents living downstream on the Red Deer River is under threat; air and water quality are constantly being monitored.

Teams have been working throughout the weekend to contain the spill and start the clean-up process. Plains Midstream is in charge of the clean-up operation between the site of the spill and the Dickson dam; however vice president, Stephen Bart, can offer no indication as to how long the process will take.

Bart said that, “we deeply regret this incident. We're obviously working to ensure we're doing all we can to limit the extent of the release.” Until then an emergency alert has been issued to warn people in the Mountain View and Red Deer counties to avoid waterways affected by the spill.